The Weblog
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July 22, 2017 Market Newsletter
This Week’s Newsletter:
Christmas in July
A Sad Announcement
Market ChitChat
Grower Notes
I realize it’s too hot to go caroling. Even if anyone did travel north they wouldn’t see snow unless they kept going at the Canadian border. The only person I know who keeps a tree up year round still has Easter decorations on it. But we can still celebrate Christmas. It is after all traditionally the birth of Christ which we can rejoice about every day, and while society has many cultural things tied to it, there are two that can’t be denied: Chocolate and Charity.
Last October Hurricane Matthew left widespread devastation to the island country of Haiti. Many of you may remember that a few weeks later we partnered with the Bourret family to help a sustainable farming village get back on its feet. Thanks to your efforts and generosity, we raised enough money to fund a much needed tree nursery. Many smaller donations have been made to them since.
The Bourret’s have shared some of the island’s bounty in the form of dark exotic chocolate and . . . (drum roll please!) there will be samples at the Market next Friday for any and all. Any Chocolate that is left over will be available for purchase the following week with funds doing directly to Haiti.
And . . . (you knew this was coming!) a box for donations will be available to help the farmers in the village of Petit Trou de Nippes rebuild. Trees that grow tropical fruits, cacao and coffee beans don’t grow back in a year and rebuilding the village infrastructure is an ongoing project.
Even if you don’t place a Market order this week feel free to stop by to try a sample and send wishes of Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Men to our island neighbors. We’d love to see you! Even if the amount is small any donation will help fellow farmers who are trying to make a difference in their community.
A SAD ANNOUNCEMENT
Sometimes being committed to excellence has a downside. Such is the case this week when a determination was made by the Department of Revenue that sales through Market at Dothan were taxable.
With around 300 Locally Grown websites across the US, it is both sad and most unfortunate that Alabama is the first state to do this, but our tax code was written long before the Market existed and is not likely to change anytime soon.
So of course we’re going to do the right thing! Starting this week your shopping cart will show Sales Tax on the items you purchase. Please know that we have every intention of looking for a way to work within the existing ALDOR rules and guidelines to find a way to eliminate this additional burden to our customers.
MARKET CHIT-CHAT
This hashtag originated with a couple of great customers, LaChelle B. and Katherine J. Us older folks are a bit slow learning about such things BUT, we are learning! Market At Dothan has utilized a Facebook page for some time that we’ve used for announcements, reminders and fun posts in general, but now we have an Instagram account too and ask you to share the fun and photos. It’s very young so there’s not a whole lot. We have tried to include behind the scenes Market shots, food shots, and fun things in general. We invite you to share your Market experience, your delish dishes and your passion for clean eating and clean living with the hashtag.
Aren’t these lovely? Last week we announed that Karen of To Work With My Hands, will be doing another live video on the Hometalk Facebook page. Well . . . this is what she’ll be teaching viewers to make! It was just too pretty not to share. The Hometalk Facebook page can be found here and the live feed will start at 12pm.
THIS WEEK’S GROWER NOTES
We have the best Growers in the Wiregrass! Please learn more about them on our Grower Page.
AVALON FARMS: Happy to say some squash are back. Only listed a few as the armyworms have discovered them. Have to stay on top of those voracious eaters. Thankfully Bt doesn’t harm anything but worms as it’s tough to get outside and spray before the pollinators are working when it’s daylight at 5am.
Working to get and stay organized with cool weather crops. So many steps involved in getting these products to you. Research, select and procure seeds. (Ooh, that sounds interesting! Get some of those.) Start transplants or direct seed? How many? Where to plant? Create better labeling scheme. (Tomatoes got mixed up. I wasn’t sure what anything was till they started making. Bad farmer!) Make a plan. Follow through with plan. Trust God to bring the harvest.
DANNY’S GREENS: Thank you to everyone who purchased the small supply of lettuce the heat is allowing us to harvest. We seem to be throwing more away than is consumer worthy, but at least the compost it produces goes back to make the soil rich and fertile. There won’t be any available this week and please know that we are giving the beds lots of TLS till nature is kinder and lets it grow stronger and faster.
HORTONS FARM: Thank you to our faithful egg customers! We’ve had to decrease the number of eggs we normally offer as 1) Chickens aren’t particularly fond of the heat and 2) Our older layers are no longer laying. We plan to start raising more when the weather cools to hopefully be up and laying come spring.
SMITH FARMS: Thank you for last week’s beef and lamb purchases. We are sometimes at the mercy of our butcher on how soon we can replenish inventory. Thank you for your understanding.
Footnotes
We would love to hear from you! If you have a favorite recipe, want to write a product review, have an idea or request for an article or information, let us know! You can reply to this newsletter or write marketatdothan@gmail.com.
Order Saturday 5pm to Tuesday 5pm weekly for Pickup the following Friday
Dothan Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303
Daleville Pickup: Daleville Chamber of Commerce Office
Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net
Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan
We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!